Villa Vs City Post Match Discussion Thread

[Jumanji]

This it seems is our achilles heel..

It most certainly is and it has been for some time.
However, lets not start believing we are the only team where 'lesser clubs' park the bus every week.
As much as I hate to say it the rags for almost 2 decades manged to break down such tactics and come out winners.
We need to learn to change our tactics and formation to do this. However, as skillful and talented some of our players
are they do not seen capable of doing it. The new managers tactic of defending with a high line away from home doesn't look the answer either.
It is a problem for sure.

We put 39 crosses in on Saturday, inc corners, and the quality of them was better than ususl, IMO, but we did not get on the end of enough of them.

It's desire. Our title winning season, our players were so hungry to win that we scored scored so many from corners that season. Highest in the league by some distance IIRC.

That season, our players were running around like madmen doing little feints everywhere to lose their marker before the ball was put in the box. They were hungry. This season and last, we've looked more static in our approach to fighting to get on the end of them.

Doesn't help that our delivery tends to be so poor for a top team.

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately it's left us a little more open and our defence is quite weak.

But we haven't really conceded any goals due to our defence being more open. We've conceded two direct free-kicks, two corners, one blatantly offside goal and one from an awful mistake by our two centre-backs. The only goal that I think you could even remotely blame on Pellegrini's more aggressive system is the first against Cardiff, and that's still arguably more to do with the players not doing their jobs (going with a runner/preventing a cross coming in) than with any inherent deficiencies in our formation.

So far this season, we're conceding fewer shots per game than last season (9.2 to 10.4) and making more tackles per game too (19.3 to 18), while also conceding fewer fouls (10.5 to 12,4). So I don't think we need to panic about being more 'open' - that really isn't the problem as far as I can see.

Now you know you shouldn't be coming on here and posting anything logical and thought out.

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately it's left us a little more open and our defence is quite weak.

But we haven't really conceded any goals due to our defence being more open. We've conceded two direct free-kicks, two corners, one blatantly offside goal and one from an awful mistake by our two centre-backs. The only goal that I think you could even remotely blame on Pellegrini's more aggressive system is the first against Cardiff, and that's still arguably more to do with the players not doing their jobs (going with a runner/preventing a cross coming in) than with any inherent deficiencies in our formation.

So far this season, we're conceding fewer shots per game than last season (9.2 to 10.4) and making more tackles per game too (19.3 to 18), while also conceding fewer fouls (10.5 to 12,4). So I don't think we need to panic about being more 'open' - that really isn't the problem as far as I can see.

Cracking post that. Facts debunking myths about the current state of play.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Unfortunately it's left us a little more open and our defence is quite weak.

But we haven't really conceded any goals due to our defence being more open. We've conceded two direct free-kicks, two corners, one blatantly offside goal and one from an awful mistake by our two centre-backs. The only goal that I think you could even remotely blame on Pellegrini's more aggressive system is the first against Cardiff, and that's still arguably more to do with the players not doing their jobs (going with a runner/preventing a cross coming in) than with any inherent deficiencies in our formation.

So far this season, we're conceding fewer shots per game than last season (9.2 to 10.4) and making more tackles per game too (19.3 to 18), while also conceding fewer fouls (10.5 to 12,4). So I don't think we need to panic about being more 'open' - that really isn't the problem as far as I can see.

Now you know you shouldn't be coming on here and posting anything logical and thought out.

One thing always puzzles me about the facts that people gather, like the ones above. How the heck do they do it?? Do you have a little clicker thing like they have as you get on a plane? Do you have different people looking for different stats? Do you rewind and watch the replay in slow motion? How, how, how.................. please remember I am an old fashioned type of person who can just about manage a PC, laptop, tablet, iPhone and iPad, can programme my TV thingymabob to record one off and series of programmes, and that is it with technology. :-)

 

[cibaman]

But we haven't really conceded any goals due to our defence being more open. We've conceded two direct free-kicks, two corners, one blatantly offside goal and one from an awful mistake by our two centre-backs. The only goal that I think you could even remotely blame on Pellegrini's more aggressive system is the first against Cardiff, and that's still arguably more to do with the players not doing their jobs (going with a runner/preventing a cross coming in) than with any inherent deficiencies in our formation.

So far this season, we're conceding fewer shots per game than last season (9.2 to 10.4) and making more tackles per game too (19.3 to 18), while also conceding fewer fouls (10.5 to 12,4). So I don't think we need to panic about being more 'open' - that really isn't the problem as far as I can see.

Now you know you shouldn't be coming on here and posting anything logical and thought out.

One thing always puzzles me about the facts that people gather, like the ones above. How the heck do they do it?? Do you have a little clicker thing like they have as you get on a plane? Do you have different people looking for different stats? Do you rewind and watch the replay in slow motion? How, how, how.................. please remember I am an old fashioned type of person who can just about manage a PC, laptop, tablet, iPhone and iPad, can programme my TV thingymabob to record one off and series of programmes, and that is it with technology. :-)

Lies, damned lies and statistics?

You could probably attribute the reduction in fouls conceded to the absence of Gareth Barry. He always conceded more than his fair share. But the thing was he usually conceded them where they couldn't do much damage, around the half way line, not on the edge of the penalty area.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Very annoying and frustrating and there's no doubt we should be putting them away without their two best players. However, we played well and dominated the game. Need to tighten up the defence and there's a few other things that need sorting (strike force mostly) but there's plenty of time to go yet

 

[Chippy_boy]

And now I have calmed down a bit, I can reflect on the fact that the Scum have got less points than us, got dicked by us 4-1, have just lost at home to West Brom ffs, are playing dire football and haven't scored in open play since 1976.

So by contrast we are doing rather well!

 

[adr2.8i]

its disapointing to lose obviously but id be more upset if we were playing crap and not creating chances. I didnt see the game, but from what i can gather we dominated possesion and created lots but didnt finish the chances off.

We will "click" one day soon and these chances will fly in and we will see some very special football i believe.

Its still very early in the season so lets get behind the lads.

I said at the start of the season that i think the champions will lose 6 games this season as i felt most teams are capable of beating each other.

 

[OB1]

Very annoying and frustrating and there's no doubt we should be putting them away without their two best players. However, we played well and dominated the game. Need to tighten up the defence and there's a few other things that need sorting (strike force mostly) but there's plenty of time to go yet

Their two best players missing is a bit of an irrelevance: they probably wouldn't have touched the ball much if they had been there.

 

[cookster]

Unfortunately it's left us a little more open and our defence is quite weak.

But we haven't really conceded any goals due to our defence being more open. We've conceded two direct free-kicks, two corners, one blatantly offside goal and one from an awful mistake by our two centre-backs. The only goal that I think you could even remotely blame on Pellegrini's more aggressive system is the first against Cardiff, and that's still arguably more to do with the players not doing their jobs (going with a runner/preventing a cross coming in) than with any inherent deficiencies in our formation.

So far this season, we're conceding fewer shots per game than last season (9.2 to 10.4) and making more tackles per game too (19.3 to 18), while also conceding fewer fouls (10.5 to 12,4). So I don't think we need to panic about being more 'open' - that really isn't the problem as far as I can see.

Cracking post that. Facts debunking myths about the current state of play.

Roll out the facts;

32 points from 32 away games - Malaga last 2 seasons
Worst start since takeover
2 points less than last season after 6 games
18th in current away form table (STD)

I'm a Pellegrini fan but you can use facts for both sides of the arguement